FLAMING GORGE FISHING DERBY
OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
May 16-17, 2015
www.flaminggorgefishderby.com
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A team may consist of 1 to 3 members. All team members must fish together i.e. use the
same boat, bank, etc. Passengers are allowed in boat.
Entry fee: $200.00 per team. Personal checks, cash, or certified funds accepted. If paid by
a credit card (Visa, MC or Discover) a $10.00 service fee will be charged.
A signed and completed entry form must be received at Lucerne Valley Marina no later than
May 15, 2015 or 400 teams.
All teams must check in for team registration at Lucerne Valley Marina on Friday May 15,
2015, no later than 8:00 p.m. Registration opens at 11:00 a.m.
Fishing times: Saturday – 5:30 am to 6:00 p.m. Sunday – 5:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Scales
open at 6:00 am.
Fish must be registered at Lucerne, Cedar Springs or Buckboard Marina weigh stations no
later than one half (1/2) hour after the close of each tournament day. This means scales will
close at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday &1:30 p.m. on Sunday. No exceptions.
All entries except the Lake Trout will be based on weight, in case of a tie, length will be the
determining factor.
If Lake Trout category is not filled, the prize money will be divided and paid into the other
categories.
The Derby is subject to cancellation due to weather conditions. Cancellation decision will
be made by Derby officials, Lucerne Marina, the US Forest Service or Utah DWR. Anglers
will be notified by Marine Band Radio.
All contestants must observe all US Coast Guard, Wyoming Game & Fish, Utah DWR, Utah
State Parks, US Forest Service, and Daggett/Sweetwater County rules and regulations
concerning sport fishing and safe boating on Flaming Gorge Reservoir. This includes UT &
WY AIS regulations.
All of Lake Flaming Gorge is involved in the tournament. No boundaries, except for no
fishing inside of the buoys of Buckboard, Lucerne & Cedar Springs Marinas.
All teams must meet back at Lucerne Valley Marina where prizes will be awarded on
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at approximately 3:00 p.m. Prize money will be contingent upon 350
entries. Monies for prizes will increase or decrease depending upon the number of entries.
There will be no total team weight category. All fish entered are subject to examination by
fisheries biologists and derby officials.
Weigh in stations will be provided at Lucerne Valley Marina, Cedar Springs Marina and
Buckboard Marina.
Per Wyoming Game & Fish: Culling is not permitted. The decision to release a fish or
keep it for contest entry must be made immediately upon capture. Any fish caught that is
not to be entered into the contest shall be immediately released to the water with as little
injury to the fish as possible. Once a fish is put on a stringer, in a container or in a live well it
cannot be released. Participants violating this rule will be disqualified.
AIS Inspection requirements: Any contest watercraft coming from out of the state of
Wyoming, is required to undergo a mandatory inspection by an authorized AIS inspector
prior to launching. Participants violating that regulation will be disqualified.
Violation of WGF regulations: All contestants must abide by all Wyoming Game and Fish
regulations concerning fishing, aquatic invasive species and boating. Any participant found
to violate any Game and Fish regulation from 6 PM Friday until 6 PM Sunday will be
disqualified.
In Utah, trout or salmon may not be released if they have been held on a stringer, fish
basket, livewell, or similar device.
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PRIZE QUALIFICATION BASED ON THE FOLLOWING:
Lake Trout: Fish must be freshly caught, be a minimum length of 36” (inches) for entry
eligibility. Only one (1) Lake Trout per angler may be in possession through the
tournament. Lake Trout will be based on total length not weight. Ties will be determined by
which fish was caught first. The large Lake Trout on Flaming Gorge are a precious
resource that the Flaming Gorge Fish Derby wants to protect. We will provide a measuring
stick, a special token and instructions at registration. Fishermen will measure the fish at
their boat with the the provided catch and release ruler and token and submit the picture
clearly showing the fish, correct measurement and token to the Flaming Gorge Fish Derby
via text message to the number given at registration. A member of the Derby staff will send
back a message via text of receipt of the fish with the measurement information to be a
valid entry into the Lake Trout category. It is the responsibility of the team member to make
sure he receives a text back in confirmation of his entry. If one is not received, then the fish
is not entered. If a fisherman does not have the ability to picture message then the fish will
need to be entered at one of the weigh stations. Per Wyoming Game & Fish rules if the
fish is entered at a weigh station then it must be harvested. Anglers fishing for trophy lake
trout are restricted to using flies and lures only. Anglers fishing for trophy lake trout are not
allowed to use bait. Participants violating this rule will be disqualified. (see below for more
explanation)
Length qualification: Rainbow Trout, Kokanee and Brown Trout must be 18” (inches) or
longer. Bass and Catfish have no size limit. Only one fish per category per angler may
be entered throughout the tournament. Fish must be caught during derby hours on Lake
Flaming Gorge. In case of a tie, length will prevail.
Largest fish will be the largest fish from the individual species of Bass, Kokanee, Rainbow
or Brown Trout category. The largest fish by weight from one of these categories will get
$2000.00. That fish will not be eligible for the 1st place in its category but the larger
amount. The next fish in line in that category will then move into the 1st place species and
all other fish will move up one notch. This will spread the prize money out to more
contestants.
GROUNDS FOR DISQUALIFICATION
Any returned checks.
Violations of any Wyoming/Utah fishing or boating safety regulations.
LAKE TROUT MEASUREMENT INFORMATION:
Lake Trout only: The large Lake Trout on Flaming Gorge are a precious resource that
the Flaming Gorge Fish Derby, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Wyoming Game
& Fish want to protect. We are providing a catch and release option for entering Lake
Trout into the derby this year. Lake Trout will not be weighed but will be measured for
overall length. This is the only species that will be measured during the Derby.
• Fish must be freshly caught and be a minimum length of 36” (inches) for entry
eligibility.
• Only one (1) Lake Trout per angler may be entered or in possession through the
tournament.
• Lake Trout will be based on total length not weight. Ties will be determined by
which fish was caught first.
• Anglers fishing for trophy lake trout are restricted to using flies and lures only.
Anglers fishing for trophy lake trout are not allowed to use bait. Participants
violating this rule will be disqualified.
There are two options to enter the Lake Trout into the Derby: Digitally and Harvest.
The FG Fish Derby will provide a measuring ruler, a special token and instructions for
measuring Lake Trout at registration as follows:
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Digital Option – Text message picture via cell phone):
• Fishermen will measure the fish immediately upon capture with the provided
measuring device and the special token included in the registration packets. A
picture must be taken from a cell phone that clearly shows the entire fish, the
measurement and token. Send the picture via text message to 307-780-5417 with
the team number, fishermen’s name, and length to the number specified during
registration. An official will send back a message via text of receipt of the fish
with the measurement information and time entered in confirmation of his/her
entry. It is the responsibility of the team member to make sure he receives a text
back in confirmation of the entry. If a text confirmation is not received from a
Derby official then the fish is not entered and the fish should immediately be
taken to one of the three (3) weigh stations. As a general rule keep the fish out of
the water no more than 60 seconds - shorter is better. The more time the fish
spend out of the water the more likely it will die after release. We recommend
holding the fish in the water in a landing net while you wait for entry
confirmation.
Harvest Option:
• If a team member does not have the ability to picture message then the fish will need
to be entered at one of the weigh stations. Per Wyoming Game & Fish and Utah
Division of Wildlife Resources regulations, fish entered at a weigh station must be
dead prior to leaving the lake.